Students for Liberty is a nonprofit founded in 2007 with the mission of providing students with opportunities to advocate for libertarianism on their campuses. This past weekend hundreds of students from around the world gathered at the palatial Hyatt hotel in the heart of Washington D.C. for the 2012 International Students for Liberty (ISFL) Conference.
My preconception of the ISFL conference was that it would be comprised of panels dedicated to boring, wonkish policy issues, like privatizing the roads or advocating tax cuts for left wing billionaires. The reality was far different, and I was surprised at the tactical emphasis of most panels at the conference.
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In fact, the vast majority of the discussions at the ISFL conference focused on strategy. Panels honed in on important topics like effective leadership on campus, how to get your name in the media, and how to infiltrate other on campus organizations.
ISFL speaker Nick Roskams of Belgium pointed out during the panel How to be a Leader for Liberty that, “victory is not self-evident.” The students at the ISFL conference seemed serious about doing the nitty-gritty work that activism and real change actually entails.
One of the more intriguing presentations of the day was given by Jeff Frazee the executive director of the student activist group Young Americans for Liberty. Frazee lead the provocatively entitled “So You’re a Libertarian, Who Gives a Sh*t.” Frazee pointed out that libertarians were not winning the battle for liberty, and the state is as large and powerful as it has ever been. The answer, according to Frazee, is to stop debating and become an activist. By engaging in practical politics, you gain state power and incrementally influence policy.
Chris Doss, a Grassroots Coordinator at the Leadership Institute echoed this tactical tone during his presentation on messaging when he boldly told the attendees, “If you are only attending to have your pictures taken with John Stossel, then you are as shallow as Rosie O’Donnell”.
His discussion focused on how to appropriately tailor your message to your audience, and highlighted how to effectively communicate with different members of the conservative movement.
This mentality starkly contrasted with last weekend’s 2012 Conservative Political Action Conference. Many students in attendance at CPAC seemed to stumble out of their hotel bed just in time to take a snapshot with their favorite movement conservative demigod before rushing to the next happy hour or social function.
The conservative establishment would be wise to take heed of this new brand of young libertarian activists. The rise of the Ron Paul movement has brought these highly ideological young activists into the political process. With the creation of institutional frameworks, substantial financial resources and highly motivated volunteers, this youthful political block will play an important role in defining the American right for the foreseeable future.
With a dragged out primary process and the lingering specter of a brokered convention, who knows how close the day is when these savvy young radicals will play the role of kingmaker. With their increasing understanding of the tactical nuances needed to gain hard power, you can bet on them taking advantage of their opportunity when that day does come.
